When looking for a place to eat near Seocho Station, there is a name you will likely hear at least once. It is ‘Gwanghwamun Mijin’. In fact, this place is so famous for its cold buckwheat noodles that it is well known as a restaurant where people line up to eat. It has been selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand multiple times and has frequently appeared on TV shows like Wednesday Food Talk and Delicious Guys.
However, on this particular day, I was craving pork cutlet. I was a little worried about whether it would be okay to order pork cutlet at a buckwheat noodle specialty store, but I opened the door with a curious mind.
More Generous Than Expected, Sample Bossam #
We ordered the Pork Cutlet Set, Warm Buckwheat Noodles, and a distinctive ‘Sample Bossam’ (Taste-test Bossam) to share. The bossam came out first. Because of the name ‘Sample’, I thought the portion would be very small, but I was surprised to see the plate filled up more than I expected.
Considering the price range, it might be an appropriate amount, but it felt much more substantial than the bossam usually ordered as a side dish. The meat was clean without any bad smell, so it was enough to stimulate the appetite before the main food came out.
Familiar but Decent Warm Buckwheat Noodles #
The Warm Buckwheat Noodles that my colleague ordered came out next. Listening to their one-line review, they said, “It’s exactly the taste I thought of.” It wasn’t a uniquely amazing taste, but they said it was a familiar buckwheat noodle taste good for a warm and clean meal. I think it would suit those who prefer the plainness of buckwheat itself rather than stimulating tastes.
Discovering ‘Life’s Best Pork Cutlet’ at a Buckwheat Noodle House #
Finally, the Pork Cutlet Set I was waiting for came out. My first impression was honestly that it had a plain composition commonly seen in snack bars like Kimbap Cheonguk. But when I took a bite, there was a twist.
The batter wasn’t thick but was quite crispy, and the inside was moist. I could feel that they used good ingredients because there was absolutely no meat smell. The sauce was especially impressive. At first, I wondered if the taste was a bit weak, but eating it with the pork cutlet, the sweet taste without being stimulating perfectly caught the greasiness of the fry. It played the role of a supporting actor properly, saving the taste of the pork cutlet itself rather than being buried by the sauce taste.
Unexpectedly Great Combination with Cold Buckwheat Noodle Broth #
There is one more fun point here. There is a kettle with cold buckwheat noodle broth at the seat, and drinking this with the pork cutlet was really a delicacy. Although the buckwheat noodles didn’t come out together like a snack bar set menu, the broth alone was charming enough.
The savory taste of the broth itself was so deep that I immediately understood why this house is famous for cold buckwheat noodles. It was to the point where I thought that if there was a ‘Cold Buckwheat Noodle Pork Cutlet Set’ on the menu, it would be really popular.
I didn’t expect much from the pork cutlet since it’s a buckwheat noodle specialty store, but it was a more satisfying meal than I thought. The cost-effectiveness is good and the portions are generous, so it will be a pretty good option for lunch for office workers in Seocho. Next time, I plan to go back to properly taste the real protagonist of this house, the cold buckwheat noodles.
